Of True Value

From Places I've wandered

We are surrounded by things beyond price
Things no money could buy, no container could hold.
Unquantifiable.

And unvalued.

How lame is that?

How much for a moment's pause?
What is the cost for a child's laugh?
Discounts by the dozen?
How much per sunrise? and sunset?
The sound of rain falling on leaves?

A parent's love, a friendship, time together?
All of the potential lost in a human life cut short
by circumstance? location? policy?

How much for a bird in flight wheeling free in the air?
Or watching a salmon's long journey come to an end spawning in the stream of its own birth?

How much for the love, trust, hope, wonder, joy, and awesomeness others share with and offer us?

Surrounded by things beyond price we focus on toys and gadgets
passions and vices for temporary thrills

We are rich already, but it passes without notice
the cost and passage of time


*ps I took the above photo in June from the top of Mt.Prevost overlooking Duncan BC. We'd camped atop the mountain and watched the sunset and rise. To the vast majority of people below these events were likely not noticed in the least, or barely in passing.

Mid-Month Hope Ramble Update

I'm over half-way through my September 2011 Ramble based out of Hope BC (hence the spotty updating). Here are a few images and videos to satiate your curiosity (or stoke it more ;) ) Enjoy :) Frog and Leaf

From Wandering and Wondering

Late night house cleaning at my friends' place is always better with fuzzy viking headgear and epic soundtrack music

From Profile Photos

Mt.Ogilvie in the pre-dawn morn

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

Well there you have a brief glimpse at a fraction of what I'm up to! I hope you're all having amazing adventures and remember that where you are is exotic to the vast majority of the world, and when you are will never happen again! Go well! :D ~mm

While just beyond Hope... rescue a frog! ;)

Having arrived in Hope on Tuesday, I volunteered and helped out around my old camp on Wednesday.

and Chef Yoshi and I rescued a frog.

September 2011 Adventure to Hope and beyond!

Greetings from the road! I know it's only been a day but I'm going to use the internet when I have access to it and share my travels when I find the time.

Yesterday I stepped out the door in Sechelt BC and caught a few buses, a ferry, and a skytrain to get through Vancouver and the Fraser Valley to end up in Hope BC.

Approximately 217km and 7hrs travel. With some great conversations and people met on the way :)

Let us begin!

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

Mt.Elphinstone looks down upon the Langdale Ferry terminal

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

Gambier Island's two peaks peek out

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

Bowen Island through glass and glare

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

Pulling into Horseshoe Bay as the Bowen Island ferry departs.
Thank you for riding BC Ferries. There isn't much of a choice ;)

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

For my many years of travelling this route I always know my stop is next to the Vancouver Christ Church Cathedral.

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

Welcome to Pacific Central Station. From here you can catch trains or coach lines. I went with Greyhound from Vancouver to Hope. I didn't get a good picture of the front because it's all scaffolded and draped for construction.

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

My bus wasn't going to leave until 1:45pm so it was time to forage. Given the choice between McD's, generic sandwich place, and the Sushi Zone... Sushi Zone wins!

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

Humourously stylin up-selling

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

I asked him if I could take his picture and he smiled and said yes. Then he grabbed his sword.

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

On the bus and awaiting departure to head East, further into the Fraser Valley as the mountains beckon.

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

As we get further away from Vancouver we get out into some of the Fraser Valley's farmland.

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

Pulling into Abbotsford for a brief stop beneath Mt.Baker's watchful gaze.

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

Dream Pizza? Any of my Abbotsfordian friends able to give a review? ;)

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

On out to Chilliwack, through the fields and narrowing valley towards where we run alongside the Fraser.

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

The Fraser River is the longest river in BC and the 10th longest in Canada. Check out the Fraser River wiki for sweet historical, geographical, geological, hydrological awesomeness!

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

The valley has narrowed significantly. The other side is just over there. We must be nearing Hope where the valleys converge.

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

Arrived!

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

From September 2011 Adventure - To Hope and Beyond

and as the sunsets on Mt.Ogilvie so ends the day's travel. Visiting old friends and sharing laughs and ideas, encouragement and resolve.

Go well my friends!
~mm

Taking to the road!

Thanks for all of the recent support and encouragement :D

From Places I've wandered

I'm taking to the road for the month of September. I'll be travelling around, volunteering, photographing, attending a few weddings, and musing about what the future holds and which way I want to head.

I hope you all have a great September and I look forward to sharing my travels here again come October. :)

If you'd like more regular updates I'll be posting photos occasionally to my FB artists page at www.facebook.com/Maplemusketeer

Farewell and fond wishes to everyone! :D
~mm

Pipers Lagoon, Nanaimo BC - Part 1

Having travelled from camping on top of Mt.Prevost, and stopping by Somenos Lake in Duncan BC, we arrived at Pipers Lagoon ready for some adventure. We found it.

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

From Places I've wandered

That's it for today... join me next time when we go around the corner and find things to climb and oak forests to explore ;)

May you have a wonderful adventure today!
~MM